How To Fix Clogged Toilets

There’s no doubt about it—plumbing companies receive more service calls to fix clogged toilets than any other type of call. The two most common problems with toilets are leaks and clogs. In this age of DIY home repairs, we thought we’d give you some helpful tips on fixing your clogged toilets yourself, before you call the plumber.

Steps For Fixing Clogged Toilets

1. Plunge Correctly

The first thing to do is to make sure that you have the right kind of plunger. Plungers come in various shapes and sizes and if you have the wrong type for the toilet, you won’t get very far in unclogging it. People often make the mistake of using sink plungers rather than toilet plungers. Sink plungers are made for sinks, and are smaller than a toilet plunger. You can recognize a sink plunger by the flat cup bottom end. Your toilet plunger should also have a piece that is attached to its cup and that piece fits right down in the drain of the toilet.

2. Remove All Excess Material

We know it sounds gross, but in order to correctly plunge your toilet, you will first need to remove all the extra material from around the drain. At this point, place the plunger in the toilet, making sure it fits snugly into the drain and the outside flat part is sitting evenly against the inside of the toilet bowl. When it feels secure, it’s time to start plunging.

3. Check for Signs of Success

When correct plunging is accomplished, you should notice the water level in the toilet has gone down significantly. Allow the drain to fill back up with water before plunging again, and you should once more notice the water level going down. At this point, the clog should be clear and what’s left in the toilet should easily go down the drain. You can now flush and allow the tank to fill back up all the way with water.

In some cases, a drain snake may be required to clear the clog. It’s a long flexible device that you can insert into the drain to try and flush the clog and move it along. These drain snakes are available in several lengths, although for a toilet, you won’t need more than a few feet. Once you insert it into the drain, push it down and then move it back and forth. The snakes often have little “teeth” on them, allowing you to hook or snag the clog and remove it. Once removed, try plunging a couple of more times to make sure the toilet is draining. Then flush normally.

If the water level does not go down after several plunging and drain snake attempts, don’t flush the toilet. This will cause it to overflow. Instead, try plunging a few more times and repeat the entire process. If the water still won’t go down, you will need to call in a plumber who handles clogged toilets.

It may be a more complicated problem than just a clog, and a professional plumber is the only one who can determine that.

Or…you may not want to deal with a dirty job like this yourself.

If you have a clogged toilet, call Plumbing Pros of Greenville at 864-421-6912.